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Flora MacDonald (1722 – 5 March 1790) is best known for helping
Charles Edward Stuart Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimir Stuart (20 December 1720 – 30 January 1788) was the elder son of James Francis Edward Stuart, grandson of James II and VII, and the Stuart claimant to the thrones of England, Scotland and ...
evade government troops after the
Battle of Culloden The Battle of Culloden (; gd, Blàr Chùil Lodair) was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. On 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force under Prince Wi ...
in April 1746. Her family had generally backed the government during the
1745 Rising The Jacobite rising of 1745, also known as the Forty-five Rebellion or simply the '45 ( gd, Bliadhna Theàrlaich, , ), was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took pl ...
, and MacDonald later claimed to have assisted Charles out of sympathy for his situation. Arrested and held in the Tower of London, she was released under a general amnesty in June 1747. She later married Allan MacDonald and the couple emigrated to North Carolina in 1773. Their support for the British government during the
American War of Independence The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
meant the loss of their American estates and they returned to Scotland, where she died in 1790.


Early life

Flora MacDonald was born in 1722 at
Milton Milton may refer to: Names * Milton (surname), a surname (and list of people with that surname) ** John Milton (1608–1674), English poet * Milton (given name) ** Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Nobel laureate in Economics, author of '' Free t ...
on South Uist in the
Outer Hebrides The Outer Hebrides () or Western Isles ( gd, Na h-Eileanan Siar or or ("islands of the strangers"); sco, Waster Isles), sometimes known as the Long Isle/Long Island ( gd, An t-Eilean Fada, links=no), is an island chain off the west coast ...
, third and last child of Ranald MacDonald (d. 1723) and his second wife, Marion. Her father was a member of the minor gentry of Clan MacDonald of Clanranald, being tacksman and
leaseholder A leasehold estate is an ownership of a temporary right to hold land or property in which a lessee or a tenant holds rights of real property by some form of title from a lessor or landlord. Although a tenant does hold rights to real property, a l ...
of Milton and Balivanich. She had two brothers, Angus, who later inherited the Milton tack, and Ronald, who died young. Particularly in the Hebrides, elements of the
Clan Donald Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill; Mac Dòmhnaill ), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry i ...
remained faithful, despite
religious persecution Religious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or a group of individuals as a response to their religion, religious beliefs or affiliations or their irreligion, lack thereof. The tendency of societies or groups within soc ...
, to the Catholic Church, but Flora came from South Uist's Protestant minority. According to Scottish Episcopal Church Bishop Robert Forbes, "Miss MacDonald is Protestant, and is descended from the family of Clanranald by her father, and of an Episcopal clergyman by her mother." Through her uncle Maighstir Alasdair MacDhòmhnaill,
Episcopalian Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of the l ...
Rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...
of
Kilchoan Kilchoan ( gd, Cille Chòmhain) is a village on the Scottish peninsula of Ardnamurchan, beside the Sound of Mull in Lochaber, Highland. It is the most westerly village in mainland Britain, although several tiny hamlets lie further west on the ...
and a Clanranald tacksman of
Dalilea Dalelia or Dalilea (from gd, Dàil Eileadh ) is hamlet on the north shore of Loch Shiel in Acharacle district of Argyll, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. Kinlochmoidart is to the north. The alternate Gaelic na ...
,
Moidart Moidart ( ; ) is part of the remote and isolated area of Scotland, west of Fort William, known as the Rough Bounds. Moidart itself is almost surrounded by bodies of water. Loch Shiel cuts off the eastern boundary of the district (along a south ...
, she was first cousin to Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair. Along with Sorley MacLean, the latter is considered one of the two most important figures in Scottish Gaelic literature. Her father died soon after her birth and in 1728 her mother married again, this time to Hugh MacDonald, Tacksman of
Armadale, Isle of Skye Armadale ( gd, Armadal) is a village near the southern end of the Sleat peninsula on the Isle of Skye, in the Highland council area of Scotland. Like most of Sleat, but unlike most of Skye, the area is fairly fertile, and though there are hills, ...
. MacDonald was brought up by her father's cousin, Sir Alexander MacDonald,
Chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...
of
Clan Macdonald of Sleat A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clans may claim descent from founding member or apical ancestor. Clans, in indigenous societies, tend to be endogamous, meaning ...
. Suggestions she was educated in Edinburgh cannot be confirmed. On 6 November 1750, she married Allan MacDonald, a captain in the British Army whose father was Sir Alexander's steward, and tacksman of
Kingsburgh, Skye Kingsburgh ( Gaelic: ''Cinnseaborgh'') is a scattered crofting township, overlooking Loch Snizort Beag on the Trotternish peninsula of the Isle of Skye in the Highlands of Scotland. It is in the council area of Highland. Kingsburgh is located ...
. They had seven surviving children, two daughters and five sons, two of whom were lost at sea in 1781 and 1782; a third son John made his fortune in India, enabling his parents to spend their last years in some comfort.


The escape of Prince Charles Edward Stuart

MacDonald was visiting Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides when
Prince Charles Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person to ...
and a small group of aides took refuge there after the
Battle of Culloden The Battle of Culloden (; gd, Blàr Chùil Lodair) was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. On 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force under Prince Wi ...
in June 1746. One of his companions, , was a distant relative of MacDonald, who asked for her help. Benbecula was controlled by an pro-government Independent Highland Company commanded by MacDonald's step-father, Hugh MacDonald. This connection allowed her to obtain the necessary permits but she apparently hesitated, fearing the consequences for her family if they were caught. She may have been taking less of a risk than it appears, since witnesses later claimed Hugh advised the Prince where to hide from his search parties. Passes were issued allowing passage to the mainland for Flora MacDonald, and a party of eight, including Charles disguised as an Irish maid called Betty Burke. On 27 June, they landed near Sir Alexander's house at Monkstadt, near Kilbride, Skye. In his absence, his wife Lady Margaret arranged lodging with her steward, who told Charles to remove his disguise, as it simply made him more conspicuous. The next day, the Prince was taken from
Portree Portree (; gd, Port Rìgh, ) is the largest town on, and capital of, the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Murray, W.H. (1966) ''The Hebrides''. London. Heinemann. Pages 154-155. It is the location for the only secondary school o ...
to the island of Raasay, while MacDonald remained on Skye. MacDonald was subsequently arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London. After Lady Margaret interceded on her behalf with the chief Scottish legal officer, Duncan Forbes, she was allowed to live outside the Tower under the supervision of a "King's Messenger", and released after the June 1747
Act of Indemnity In legal terms, an Act of Indemnity is a statute passed to protect people who have committed some illegal act which would otherwise cause them to be subjected to legal penalties. International treaties may contain articles that bind states to abide ...
. Aristocratic sympathisers collected over £1,500 for her, one of the contributors being Frederick, Prince of Wales. She allegedly told Frederick she helped Charles out of charity, and would have done the same for him.


Emigration to North Carolina

Following their marriage in 1750, Flora and her husband Allan MacDonald lived at
Flodigarry Flodigarry ( gd, Flòdaigearraidh) is a scattered settlement on the north east side of the Trotternish peninsula on the island of Skye, and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. The small island of Eilean Flodigarry ( gd, Eilean Fhlòdai ...
on Skye. Allan served in the 114th and 62nd Regiments of Foot during the 1756 to 1763 Seven Years' War, and inherited Kingsburgh when his father died in 1772. The couple was visited here by poet, essayist, and lexicographer
Dr. Johnson Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709  – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary criticism, critic, biographer, editor and lexicogra ...
in 1773, whose words were later inscribed on her memorial at Kilmuir: "a name that will be mentioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour". However, a series of poor harvests and increasingly high rents resulted in what Johnson described as an "epidemic desire of wandering" throughout the Highlands in general. At the time of his visit in 1773, more than 800 people from the Sleat lands were preparing to emigrate to North America, and in 1774 Flora and her husband moved to Anson County, North Carolina. Along with other
Clan Donald Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill; Mac Dòmhnaill ), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry i ...
transplants, they settled near what is now Cameron Hill, on a plantation named "Killegray". When the American Revolutionary War began in 1775, Allan raised the Anson Battalion of the Loyalist North Carolina Militia, a total of around 1,000 men, including their sons Alexander and James. They then set off for the coast to link up with some 2,000 British reinforcements commanded by General Henry Clinton, who in reality had only just left
Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...
in Ireland. Early on the morning of 27 February, they were ambushed at Moore's Creek Bridge by Patriot militia led by Richard Caswell and along with his troops, Allan MacDonald was taken prisoner. After the battle, Flora MacDonald was interrogated by the local Committee of Safety. In April 1777, all Loyalist-owned property was confiscated and the MacDonalds were evicted from Killegray, losing all their possessions. After 18 months in captivity, Allan was released as part of a prisoner exchange in September 1777 and posted to Fort Edward, Nova Scotia as commander of the
84th Regiment of Foot The 84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment of Foot was a regiment in the British Army, raised in 1793. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 65th (2nd Yorkshire, North Riding) Regiment of Foot to form the York and Lancaster Regiment, with ...
. He was joined here by his wife in August 1778.


Return to Skye

After a harsh winter in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in September 1779 MacDonald took passage for London in the ''Dunmore,'' a British privateer; during the voyage, she broke her arm and ill-health delayed her return to Scotland until spring 1780. She spent the next few years living with various family members, including Dunvegan home of her son-in-law Major General Alexander MacLeod, the largest landowner in Skye after the MacDonalds. The compensation received for the loss of their property in North Carolina was insufficient to allow them to resettle in Nova Scotia and Allan returned to Scotland in 1784. Kingsburgh was now occupied by Flora's half-sister and her husband, and Allan instead took up tenant farming in nearby Penduin. She died in 1790 at the age of 68 and was buried in Kilmuir Cemetery, followed by her husband in September 1792.


Legacy

Traditional portrayals of the escape focus on Charles, with MacDonald relegated to a secondary role. She herself rarely spoke of the episode, and her last contact with the Prince was when they parted ways at Portree. It appears her assistance was at least partly driven by fears his continued presence would endanger her family. Michael Newton, a modern scholar of Scottish Gaelic literature, argues English-language versions fail to recognise that not only is her husband the celebrated iconic hero in the Gaelic oral tradition, but that, "Flora was only one of many people who risked their lives to protect" the Prince during his flight after Culloden. Her cousin, Gaelic poet Niall mac Eachainn, criticised her in verse for trying to win favour from both Stuarts and Hanoverians, while contrasting his own continuing loyalty to the Jacobite cause. MacDonald was painted several times by Scottish portrait artist
Allan Ramsay Allan Ramsay may refer to: *Allan Ramsay (poet) or Allan Ramsay the Elder (1686–1758), Scottish poet *Allan Ramsay (artist) or Allan Ramsay the Younger (1713–1784), Scottish portrait painter *Allan Ramsay (diplomat) (1937–2022), British diplom ...
(1713–1784), most of which have now survived. The one used in this article was done after her release from the Tower in 1749–1750; in 2015, a previously unrecorded painting, allegedly also by Ramsay, was discovered in Florida. Inspired by the novels of Sir Walter Scott, the Victorian era created a Scottish cultural identity that co-opted "romantic" icons like Mary, Queen of Scots and Prince Charles. In 1878, MacDonald joined this list with the publication of an alleged "Autobiography".
Ghostwritten ''Ghostwritten'' is the first novel published by English author David Mitchell. Published in 1999, it won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and was widely acclaimed. The story takes place mainly around East Asia, but also moves through Russia, B ...
by her granddaughter Lady Flora Frances Wylde, it contains so many mistakes that it could not have been written by her. These errors were repeated by Charles Ewald in his 1886 book ''The Life and Times of Prince Charles Edward'', which remains the basis for many popular perspectives on her life and motivations. This was soon followed by the first performance of the Scottish highland dance known as "Flora MacDonald's Fancy", while a bronze statue was erected at Inverness Castle in 1896, with her dog Flossie by her side. The
Flora MacDonald Academy Flora is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous) native plants. Sometimes bacteria and fungi are also referred to as flora, as in the terms '' gut flora'' or '' skin flora''. E ...
, formerly Flora MacDonald College, in Red Springs, North Carolina is named for her. Two of her children are interred on the campus. Until 2009, it was also the site of the Flora Macdonald Highland Games.


In popular culture


English literature

*
Inglis Fletcher Inglis Fletcher (October 20, 1879 – May 30, 1969) was an American writer. Early life Inglis Clark was born October 20, 1879, in Alton, Illinois, the daughter of Maurice W. Clark and Flora Chapman. Career Inglis Fletcher is known for numerous ...
, ''The Scotswoman'' (1954); a novel based on Flora MacDonald's life in North Carolina during the
American War of Independence The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
.


Film and television

* In the 1948 film ''
Bonnie Prince Charlie Bonnie, is a Scottish given name and is sometimes used as a descriptive reference, as in the Scottish folk song, My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean. It comes from the Scots language word "bonnie" (pretty, attractive), or the French bonne (good). That ...
'', Flora MacDonald is portrayed by Margaret Leighton, with David Niven as Prince Charles. Niven later recalled the film as "...one of those huge, florid extravaganzas that reek of disaster from the start." * Flora MacDonald was played by Shauna Macdonald in the ''Outlander'' television series, season six, episode five.


Music

* In 1884, Sir Harold Boulton composed English lyrics to ''Cuachag nan Craobh'' , a lament written by 18th-century Gaelic poet William Ross about his unrequited love for noblewoman Marion Ross.Cuachag nan Craobh
Tobar an Dualchais Tobar (originally ''Tovar'') is a municipality and town located in the province of Burgos, Spain, within the Castile and León region. It is 35 km northwest of Burgos Burgos () is a city in Spain located in the autonomous community of C ...
Under the title ''
The Skye Boat Song "The Skye Boat Song" is a late 19th-century Music of Scotland, Scottish song recalling the journey of Prince Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie") from Benbecula to the Isle of Skye as he evaded capture by government troops after his ...
'', Boulton's lyrics focus instead upon Prince Charles' escape to Skye, and proved extremely popular. * The Flask, a Dutch folkband, released the son
Flora MacDonald
in 2021, telling her story from saving Prince Charlie until her death.


Footnotes


References


Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Further reading

*


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Macdonald, Flora 1722 births 1790 deaths Scottish Jacobites People from Uist Loyalists in the American Revolution from North Carolina Outlander (franchise) Prisoners in the Tower of London Women in the American Revolution Women in Scotland Scottish-American culture in North Carolina Protestant Jacobites